Material gathering and loading machine



Dec. 4, 1945. c E. ANDERSHOCK I MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADI NG MACHINEFiled Aug. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-She 1 c E; ANDERSHOCK 2,390,410 MATERIALGATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE;

Dec. 4, 1945.-

Filed Aug 14, 1944 2 Sheets-S1195; 2

l/E/VTOR for operation in thin seams of coal.

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING 1 MACHINE ChesterE. Andershock, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,

Chicago,

. 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application August 14, 1944, SerialNo. 549,389

3 Claims. (01. 1988) This invention relates to improvements in materialgathering and loading machines of the type adapted to load coal at theworking face of a mine underground.

Heretofore face loading machines mounted on continuous tread devices ormounted for loading from a track have been provided with an inclinedelevating conveyer extending in advance of the main frame of the machineand pivotally connected to the main frame for movement about atransverse axis. A gathering head has been mounted at the forward end ofthe elevating 3 conveyer, for picking up material from the ground andloading it onto the elevating conveyer. Screw devices or hydrauliccylinders and pistons connected between the main frame and the undersideof the elevating conveyer have been used for raising or lowering thegathering head by power about the axis of pivotal connection of theelevating conveyer to the main frame. Since these cylinders and pistonsor screw devices havebeen disposed beneath the elevating conveyer,

usually in advance of the pivotal ax s of the conveyer, they haveobstructed travel of the machine over an uneven mine bottom and havemade it diflioult, if not impossible, to load over rough' and unevenbottoms and along benches on the floor, especially where the machine ismounted on continuous tread devices and is constructed My invention hasas its principal objects to overcome these difliculties by providing anew, improved and simplified means for elevat ng the gathering head of alow vein loading machine, so arranged as to be free from the ground soas to provide an unobstructed space between theunderside of thegathering head and the ground at the axis of pivotal movement thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel form ofelevat ng means for the entitled improvements in Material gathering andloading machines, and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as thefollowing specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front part 'of a loading machineconstructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts brokenaway and certain other parts shown in substantially horizontal section;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the front part of the loadingmachine shown in Figure 1, showing the gathering head in one position ofadjustment;

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2, but showing thegathering head in an elevated position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing certain details of theyieldable means for urgin the gathering head into an elevated position;and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of thecylinders for elevating the gathering head.

In the drawings, the loading machine consists generally of a main framel0 mounted on a pair of laterallyspaced continuous tread devices II, IIand having an inclined gathering element or head l2 disposed in advanceof said main frame and mounted for vertical adjustment with respectthereto about a transverse axis. A conveyer l3 has said gatheringhead'mounted at its forward end and extends from said gathering head inan upwardly inclined direction to and over said main frame and beyondthe rear end of the latter in an overhanging position (not shown), so asto discharge material into mine cars or the like, The deta ledconstruction of said loading machine is clearly disclosed in theaforementioned application Serial No. 497,004, so will not herein beshown or described in detail.

which constitutes the inventive subject matter of y the presentapplication. is d sclosed but not claimed in an application Serial No,497.004,

filed by Frank Cartlidge on August 2, 1943, and

The gathering'head I2 is supported in advance of the main frame I B forlateral movement with respect thereto arid for vertical adjustment withrespect thereto on a laterally movable frame M, which is mounted at theforward end of said main frame for pivotal movement about the verticalaxis of a bearing boss I! (see Figure 1). Said laterally swinging framerests on and slidably moves along a forwardly projecting bottomsupporting plate 18 of said main frame and extends in advance of theforward end of said main frame. A cylinder and piston indicatedgenerally by reference character I9 are provided to laterally swing saidframe and gathering head in a well known manner. The detailedconstruction of said frame and its vertical pivotal connection to saidmain frame are no part of my present invention and are clearly shown anddescribed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 497,004, so arenot herein shown or described in detail.

The gathering head I2 is mounted on the for- Ward end of a longitudinallextending inclined frame 2|, which is transversely pivoted to theforward end' of the swinging frame I4. The upper portion of saidinclined frame 2| forms an inclined trough for the inclinedelevatingportion of the conveyer l3. Said inclined frame is transversely pivotedadjacent its rear end on the forward end of the laterally swinging frame14, on the outer peripheries of bearing bosses 22, 22 formed integrallywith the frame I4, the insides of which bosses form bearing supports fora :transverse drive shaft 23 for a chain 24 for the conveyer I3, andwhich drive shaft is coaxial with the horizontal pivotal axis of saidinclined :frame '21.

"The gathering head l2, herein shown, is of a well known form of endlesschain gathering head and includes an inclined-apron 25 mounted on theforward end of the inclined frame 2| and extend- :ing in advance thereofand across the front end of theponveyer 'l 3. .A air of chain guidingmembers 21, 21 having endless chains 28, 28 guided for orbital movementthereabout are mounted on the top side of said apron, as usual, so as toextend-along opposite sides of and forwardly of said conveyer, Aplurality of gathering arms 29, 29 are carried by said endless chainsfor p cking up -.material from t e ground and moving it along a forwardportion of said apron onto the conveyer.

'The conveyer I3 is herein shown as being of the single strand laterallyflexible type having a plurality of il 'ghts'3l. 3| piv -tally connectedto adjacent ends of sections of the chain 24 so said chain will flexlatera ly u on lateral fleX h1e movementof the forward or discharge endsof the conveyer, as'is well known to those skilled in the art. Saidchain and fli hts ex end from an idler 32 mounted at the forward end ofthe inclined frame 21, upwardly along said frame in a trough formed byopposite side walls thereof, and over the top of said main frame n a tough formed by flexible sidewalls 33,33, as is clearly shown anddescribed in the aforementioned application of Frank Cartlidge, SerialNo. 497,004, so not herein shown or described in detail.

Referring now in particular to the novel means forelevating thegathering head l2 and the forward end of the conveyer I3 about the axisof the drive's'haf-t 23, a pair of laterally spaced cylinders :35, 35extend along opposite sides of said conveyer in a generally horizontalplane when the gathering head I2 is in a lowered position (see Figures-1 and 2). "Each of said cyl nders has a pist n 36 slidably mountedtherein with a piston rod '31 secured thereto and extending from saidcylinder (see Figure Said cylinders each have ports in the head andpiston rod ends thereof so as to supply fluid under pressure to eitherend of said -cylinder,-so said pistons and piston rods may positivelyraise or lower said gathering head by power.

"Saidears extend along opposite sides of a bracket 40, projectingupwardly from and herein shown as being formed integrally with theswinging frame l4 and disposed to the rear of the axis of verticaladjustment of the forward end of the conveyer l3 and gathering head 12.Pivotal pins 4|, 4| pivotally connect said ears to said brackets. Thefree end of each piston rod 31 is pivotally connected to a bracket 43 bymeans of a pivotal pin 44. Said brackets are disposed forwardly of theaxis of vertical adjustment of the conveyer I3 and are mounted on plates45, 45 projecting outwardly from the sides .of the inclined frame 2|,just rearwardly of and beneath the upper end of the inclined apron 25.

A pair of pre-loaded compression springs 41, 41 are provided to exert aforce on the gathering head l2 in a direction to tend to hold it infloating engagement with the ground when pressure is relieved from thehead and piston rod ends of the cylinders 35, 35. Said springs extendalong opposite sides of the conveyer and encircle eyebolts 48, 48transversely pivoted to bifurcated brackets 49, 49. Each bracket 49extends upwardly from the plate 45 and is spaced outwardly from andforwardly of the bracket 4.3. The opposite endof said eyebolt isthreadedina flanged sleeve 50, the flange of which, sleeve is abutted bythe rear end of said spring 41. The flange of said sleeve is urged in adirection towards an abutment member-5| by means of said spring, whichabutment member ,is transversely pivoted to a bracket 54, projectingupwardly from the upper end of the laterally swinging frame I4. Theopposite end of said spring abuts a flanged sleeve-55, which encirclessaid eyebolt 4B and permits said eyebolt to slidably move with'respectthereto. Said abutment member 5| and flanged sleeve 55 are connectedtogether by means of a plurality of threaded rods 56, 56 threaded attheir ends 'in the flanges of said sleeves and abutment members. Saidrods also extend through the flange of the flanged sleeve 51! and form aslidable guide therefor. Nuts 51, 51, threaded on opposite ends of saidrods. lock said rods to the flanges of said sleeves.

It may be seen from the foregoing that lowering of the gathering head 12will compress the springs 41, 41. Said springs will thus exert a forceon said gathering head I2 through the flanged sleeves 50, 50 andeyebolts 48, 48, in a direction to tend to move said gathering head inan upward direction. When said gathering head is in an elevated positionand fluid under pressure is relieved from the piston rod ends of thecylinders 35, 35, said springs will retard downward movement of saidgathering head and will prevent it from hitting the ground with a sharpb ow.

It may here be seen that said cylinders and their piston rods aredisposed above the axis of pivotal movement of the inclined frame 2| andthe gathering head 12, so that an unobstructed space is 7 thereof, andare so arranged as not to add to the vertical height of the machine.

It may also be seen that this arrangement removes all obstructions fromunderneath thegathering element and the inclined elevating portion ofthe conveyer, and provides sufiicient clearance to permit the machine topick up material from the ground, where the bottom is rough orirregular, or where the gathering element isloadi-ng from a bench spacedabove the bottom proper,

or is loading over obstructions on the mine bottom.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my inventionmay be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof andthe arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to beconstrued as limiting my invention to the specific embodimentillustrated. excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterallyspaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame formovement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of theforward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontalswinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotallymounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, forpivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed in advance of saidmain frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on the forward endthereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point inadvance of said swinging frame to and along said main frame, means forlaterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to saidmain frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or the otherof said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders andpistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer aboutsaid transverse axis, each of said cylinders and pistons extending alongone side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within theupper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering headis in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotalconnection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of saidconveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of saidconveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extending alongopposite sides of said conveyer and disposed above said pivotal axis andpivotally connected between said swinging frame and said conveyer forurging said gathering head in an elevated position and for holding it infloating engagement with the ground when fluid under pressure isrelieved from said cylinders and pistons.

2. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterallyspaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame formovement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of theforward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontalswinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotallymounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, forpivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed in advance of saidmain frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on 'the forward endthereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point inadvance of said swinging frame to'and along said main frame, means forlaterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to saidmain frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or'the otherof said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders andpistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer aboutsaid transverse axis, each of said cylindersand pistons extending alongone side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within theupper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering headis in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotalconnection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of saidconveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of saidconveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extending alongopposite sides of said conveyer and disposed above said pivotal axis andpivotally connected between said swinging frame and said conveyer forurging said gathering head in an elevated position and for holding it infloating engagement with the ground when fluid under pressure isrelieved from said cylinders and pistons, each of said yieldable meansincluding a member pivotally connected to said swinging frame asubstantial distance to the rear of the axis of vertical pivotalmovement of said conveyer, another member pivotally connected to saidconveyer a substantial distance in advance of the axis of verticalpivotal movement of said conveyer and having slidable connection withsaid first mentioned member, and a compression spring interposed betweensaid members.

3. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterallyspaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame formovement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of theforward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontalswinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotallymounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, forpivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed. in advance of saidmain frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on the forward endthereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point inadvance of said swinging frame: to and along said main frame, means forlaterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to saidmain frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or the otherof said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders andpistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer aboutsaid transverse axis, each of said cylinders and pistons extending alongone side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within theupper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering headis in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotalconnection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of saidconveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of saidconveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extendin alongopposite sides of said conveyer above said transverse pivotal axis andextending along the outer sides of said cylinders and pistons for urgingsaid gathering head in an elevated position and holding it in floatingengagement with the ground when fluid under pressure is relieved fromsaid cylinders and pistons, said means each including a member pivotallyconnected to said swinging frame a substantial distance to the rear ofthe axis of pivotal. movement of said conveyer and extending beyond theforward end of said swinging frame, another member pivotally connectedto said conveyer a substantial distance in advance of'the transversepivotal axis thereof, a slidable supporting and guiding connectionbetween said members, and a compression spring interposed between saidmembers.

CHESTER E. ANDERSHOCK.

